By Doug CohenMiller
Media and Communications Specialist, International Trade Center

(Oct. 28, 2013) -- The International Trade Center at The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) Institute of Economic Development announced it will complete its four-part Small Business Development Center (SBDC) Counselor and Director Certificate Training on Nov. 6-7 in Bridgetown, Barbados. The program will help Barbados establish SBDCs to support business owners and entrepreneurs throughout the country.

SBDCs, established throughout the United States by the federal government in partnership with state governments and universities and colleges, assist entrepreneurs and business owners in establishing and growing their businesses through a free and confidential suite of advising services. Services include, but are not limited to, feasibility studies, business strategy, financial planning, marketing, production and professional networking. The centers support new and existing businesses.

Through the SBDC Counselor and Director Certificate Trainings, participants have learned about the U.S. SBDC model and methodology. Individual training modules are focused on SBDC business advising best practices and the role of specialty SBDCs (like those focused on international trade), as well as real-world and practical development of an operational plan to guide future counselors and directors on how to manage an office, personnel and funding. This training is part of the International Trade Center and Institute for Economic Development International SBDC Expansion Initiative that, with the support of the U.S. Department of State, has been helping countries develop U.S.-modeled SBDC networks since 2003.

"The SBDC Certificate training program has been highly developmental. It has given us practical methods and strategies that we can begin to implement," said training participant Kelly St. Hill of Samuel Jackman Prescod Polytechnic in Bridgetown, Barbados. "Thanks to the amazing team of trainers, we are now better equipped to serve emerging and developing businesses in our local context."

Albert Salgado, director of the South-West Texas Border SBDC Network, and Barbara Mooney, international business consultant at the International Trade Center at UTSA, will complete the Certificate Training for Future SBDC Counselors and Directors.

The International Trade Center at UTSA is one of the largest and most successful trade assistance organizations in Texas. It helps companies become globally competitive through technical trade consulting, customized market research and innovative training programs. The center is a specialty SBDC program in the South-West Texas Border SBDC Network. Follow them on Twitter (@TexasTrade) and like them on Facebook (Facebook.com/texastrade).

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